PIETRO Mascagni rose to his task after a break of more than six months, taking a MR90 Handicap over 1450m under top weight, and fighting off the favourite D’Arrivee.

Randall Simons rode a good race to get the lightly raced four-year-old home at 7-1, following the stable’s pre-race assessment that he’d just need the run, but had the class to finish in the money.

“His class showed because he definitely needed it,” said Mathew de Kock on Sunday. “We’ve always held him in high regard and he’s going to improve for this run. We’ll be looking at the Charity Mile and the Summer Cup for him.”

Varsfontein-bred Pietro Mascagni races for Sheikh Hamdan. He was a R2,3-million purchase at the National Yearling Sale of 2016 and he’s 3 from 6 and looking promising.

Penny From Heaven.

Penny From Heaven, another offspring of Silvano, opened the stable’s account with an easy win in a MR72 Handicap over 1600m, competently handled by apprentice Luke Ferraris.

“There are quite a few owners who pay the bills for Penny From Heaven and she’s finally done them proud. She was battling along and we were thinking giving up on her, but she’s done very well recently, she’s matured and there could be more to come,” Mat said.

David Ferraris commented: “It’s quite uncanny that Penny From Heaven was saddled by Mike de Kock’s son Mathew and ridden by my son Luke, while I am in Hong Kong and Mike on holiday in Sardinia. I messaged Mike, we joked around a bit since we were of course at school together and trained together for a long time. Perhaps we should retire now and let the youngsters get on with it!”

Penny From Heaven was a R600,00 purchase from the CTS Book 1 Sale in 2016, and was bred by Maine Chance Farms.